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Susan Laxson CRS, Realtor in San Diego, CA & Naples, FL (Palm Properties)

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Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Stamp prices are going down shortly for the first time in a gazillion years. There are lots of reasons the USPS should be privatized, but I don't know that the cost of mailing to our farms will be a determining factor.

Mar 11, 2016 09:57 PM
Rainmaker
1,661,936
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

What?  Stamps are going down?  

Mar 11, 2016 09:42 PM
Rainmaker
938,537
Bruce Walter
Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Susan, I just saw where the USPS is going to REDUCE the price of a first class stamp from 49 cents to 47 cents!!!!!

I recently mailed a five pound package to a client in Australia for $96 and the two big private shippers wanted over twice as much to deliver the package, and it would have been a day later than the USPS.  I think they are doing a good job!

Mar 11, 2016 09:36 PM
Ambassador
1,452,869
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

It costs me $1.20 plus tax to mail a letter in Canada!  I want to know why a Paper Boy and a Mailman have such a different salary for doing the same job?

Mar 11, 2016 10:38 PM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Privatize or shutdown USPS and see what it'll cost then. And yes, the price of a stamp is going down. :)

Mar 11, 2016 09:39 PM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Should have been closed down years ago.

 

Mar 11, 2016 09:36 PM
Rainmaker
556,890
DEANNA C. SMITH CERTIFIED MOBILE NOTARY
Certified Mobile Notary Signing Agent - Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Highest Ranked Certified Mobile Notary in Virginia

With the extremely high costs in the Post Office, it would have gone bankrupt long ago if it was a private business.  The fact that the service exists is a benefit I don't think the private sector would be able to provide at the same price to the consumer.

Here's to all the Postal Workers that perform their duties every day to make sure our mailings get delivered.   Thank you. 

Mar 11, 2016 11:33 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

A private company can choose to discontinue service that is not profitable.

Privatization could be what you don't want to happen. 

Mar 11, 2016 11:12 PM
Rainmaker
655,940
Jeffrey Jones
AZ Home Seekers - San Tan Valley, AZ
AZ Home Seekers, azhomeseekers.com

Post office has no accountability. We routinely send EDDM flyers to our farm. last May they sent them to the other side of town. 10 calls to the post master got us nothing. Their answer was that they were delivered, they make an effort to to get them to the target routes but its not guaranteed. Yes, it needs to be run as a business and not as a bureauocratic monopoly.

Mar 11, 2016 11:01 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

parked and reading

Mar 12, 2016 09:02 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 If the USPS was privatized and could probably make some money. It has been set up so that every dollar that comes into it must be spent. I learned that from a top official in the USPS.

Mar 12, 2016 05:33 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Susan Laxson USPS has EDDM which is an inexpensive solution.

Mar 12, 2016 01:57 PM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

They are privatized.  Haven't been a government entity for many, many years.  Only exception is the price of the postage stamp is government regulated and mail theft is still a federal crime.

Mar 12, 2016 11:09 AM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

It's such a huge bureaucracy now, something needs to be done. Once I looked into signing up for bulk mail rates - the instructions were so convoluted, it was nearly impossible to figure them out. There are "specialists" at the PO to walk you through it! What a waste! and... the services didn't even seem cost-effective. 

Mar 12, 2016 07:13 AM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Have you checked out Every Door Direct?  The Postal Serivce has greatly reduced mailing costs.

Mar 12, 2016 06:07 AM
Rainmaker
533,993
Robert Havana
Park and Protect- Alberta Real Estate License Parking - Calgary, AB
Alberta Real Estate License Parking

i dont use the post office for farm mailouts, i find that there are community groups who will do regional delivery such as flyers for less money and they appreciate the job.  i use an associate that does it with handicapped kids, the kids get paid and i get my flyers delivered.  its win win.

Mar 12, 2016 05:27 AM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

The only tax revenue the post office has been given since the 1980s is for ballots to be sent to overseas soldiers.  It's still a division of the federal government, but it's not the same as most government agencies with more waste

Mar 12, 2016 05:13 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Only if you want to destroy it.

Mar 12, 2016 03:48 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I doubt it would be any less expensive if it was.

Mar 12, 2016 03:25 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Fine provided the service and cost does not negatively chsnge

Mar 12, 2016 03:06 AM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I don't care about that but as for more efficiency it could help. I was talking with friends about the grumpy people at our post office and how they seem to hate their jobs. 

Mar 12, 2016 02:11 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

YES YES and YES... The government has proven they can not handle any aspect of it and do it well. Privatize it and watch it thrive bringing a profit

Mar 12, 2016 01:57 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

that's not going to happen.... 

Mar 12, 2016 01:39 AM
Rainmaker
644,025
Greg Large
ERA Real Solutions - Grove City, OH
A Tradition of Trust

When I consider the time and expense of me perosnally  delivering mail to what the post office charges, no.

Mar 12, 2016 01:28 AM
Rainer
35,902
Joan Beduze
Keller Williams Realty Acadiana - Lafayette, LA

Absolutely!  Virtually every Government - controlled entity would be more productive, efficient, and profitable, if it was privatized.

Mar 12, 2016 01:22 AM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

That is a decision for the American people and their elected officials to determine.

Mar 12, 2016 12:55 AM
Rainmaker
785,475
Abby Stiller
TOP SELLING REALTY - Cape Coral, FL
SW Florida (239) 284-8637

Yes, it's failing costing the goverment billions.

Mar 12, 2016 12:55 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

That would be nice but if it was private and things went south we as a country would be devistated

Mar 12, 2016 12:08 AM
Ambassador
5,049,455
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Not sure. Just happy to hear about prices going down - what a shock that is. WIll the service also deteriorate further?

Mar 11, 2016 11:35 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

No

Mar 11, 2016 11:25 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,169
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

There are more important reasons for changing the antiquated practices.

Mar 11, 2016 11:10 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

That will not likely to happen. Union objection.

 

Mar 11, 2016 11:08 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Absolutely...The first thing to change would be customer service then service

Mar 11, 2016 11:02 PM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

A lesson from Ben Franklin is wise here Susan. When you watch the pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves. A discussion with the postmaster will help you bring those costs down. Not sure if privatizing can provide much benefit in the long run. It could become one of those scenarios where you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.

Mar 11, 2016 10:54 PM
Rainmaker
4,936,705
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

wish, but will never happen.

Mar 11, 2016 10:44 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Susan,

They also have program where you can have delivery to a certain zip quite reasonably priced.  Check with them or their website.  A

Mar 11, 2016 10:39 PM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Susan Laxson I didn't hear that the price reduction will affect bulk mail. The post office is a losing profit center. It it were privatized, it would cost much more for the same service.

Mar 11, 2016 10:27 PM
Rainmaker
1,513,143
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

With all the laws being passed on how to run, pay and how much one serves it probably will not happen; unless there are fees going to the government.

Mar 11, 2016 10:27 PM
Rainmaker
3,626,530
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Well, well, well this is news to me,  2 cents downward...  What will they come up with next???  

Mar 11, 2016 10:03 PM